Major 3rd

General info

Interval

Major 3rd

Quality

Major

Semitones

4

Degree distance

3 degrees

Degree

3

Interval structure

Lower note

D (293.7 Hz)

Lower note role

Root

Upper note

F# (370.0 Hz)

Upper note role

Major third (3)

Degree formula

I

III

Semitone formula

4 semitones (2 whole tones)

Interval construction

Interval formula

M3

Brief explanation

A major third spans four semitones. Above a root, it defines the major quality of a triad but does not determine a specific mood by itself.

Interval notes

Consonance / dissonance

Sonority

Imperfect consonance

Explanation

A major third is an imperfect consonance. In tertian harmony, it serves as a stable structural interval in major and augmented chords.

How the interval sounds

Tendencies & resolutions

The major 3rd is a stable consonance that does not require mandatory resolution. It defines the major character and can sound freely in a chord. In melody, the major 3rd often resolves by stepwise motion or serves as a pivot point of a phrase.

Harmonic context

A major third joins degrees 1 and 3 of a major triad. It appears in maj, 7, maj7, aug, and aug7 chords; two stacked major thirds form an augmented triad. Ionian, Lydian, and Mixolydian all have a major scale degree 3.

Interval inversion

Inverts to

Minor 6thm6

Quality change

Major

minor

Inversion rule

When inverting a major 3rd, the lower note moves up an octave. 4 semitones (M3) become 8 semitones — a minor 6th (m6).

Related intervals